Editing Nafpaktos (section)

===Antiquity===
In Greek legend, Naupactus is the place where the [[Heraclidae]] built a fleet to invade the [[Peloponnese]].

In [[Classical Antiquity]], it was an important town of the [[Locri Ozolae]] and the best harbour on the northern coast of the [[Corinthian Gulf]]. The town was situated just within the entrance of this gulf, a little east of the promontory [[Antirrhium]]. It is said to have derived its name from the [[Heracleidae]] having here built the fleet with which they crossed over to [[ancient Peloponnesus|Peloponnesus]].<ref>{{Cite Strabo|ix. p.426}}</ref><ref name="Cite Pausanias|10|38|10">{{Cite Pausanias|10|38|10}}</ref><ref>[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)]], 2.8.2.</ref>

Though Naupactus was indebted for its historical importance to its harbour at the entrance of the Corinthian gulf, it was probably originally chosen as a site for a city on account of its strong hill, fertile plains, and copious supply of running water. After the [[Greco-Persian Wars]] it fell into the power of the [[ancient Athens|Athenians]], who settled there the [[ancient Messenia|Messenians]], who had been compelled to leave their country at the end of the [[Third Messenian War]] in 464&nbsp;BCE, and during the [[Peloponnesian War]] it was the headquarters of the Athenians in all their operations in Western Greece,<ref>{{Cite Pausanias|4|24|7}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Thucydides|1.103, 2.83, ''et seq.''}}</ref> and the scene of the [[Battle of Naupactus (429 BC)|Battle of Naupactus]] in 429&nbsp;BCE. After the [[Battle of Aegospotami]] the Messenians were expelled from Naupactus, and the Locrians regained possession of the town.<ref name="Cite Pausanias|10|38|10"/> Afterwards it passed into the hands of the [[ancient Achaea|Achaeans]], from whom, however, it was wrested by [[Epaminondas]].<ref>{{Cite Diodorus|15.75}}</ref> [[Philip II of Macedon]] gave it to the [[ancient Aetolia|Aetolians]],<ref>{{Cite Strabo|ix. p.427}}</ref><ref>Dem. ''Phil.'' iii. p. 120.</ref> and hence it is frequently called a town of Aetolia.<ref>''[[Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax]]'', p. 14</ref><ref>{{Cite Mela|2.3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Pliny|4.2.3}}</ref> The Aetolians vigorously defended Naupactus against the [[ancient Rome|Romans]] for two months in 191&nbsp;BCE.<ref>{{Cite Livy|36.30, ''et seq.''}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Polybius|5.103}}</ref> [[Ptolemy]] calls it a town of the Locri Ozolae,<ref>{{Cite Ptolemy|3.15.3}}</ref> to whom it must therefore have been assigned by the Romans after Pliny's time.

[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] saw at Naupactus a temple of [[Poseidon]] near the sea, a temple of [[Artemis]], a cave sacred to [[Aphrodite]], and the ruins of a temple of [[Asclepius]].<ref>{{Cite Pausanias|10|38|12}}-13.</ref> The Roman playwright [[Plautus]] mentions Naupactus in his comedy ''[[Miles Gloriosus]]'' as the destination of an Athenian master (Pleusicles) who is on a diplomatic mission to the city.

Naupactus is mentioned in the 6th-century list of [[Hierocles (author of Synecdemus)|Hierocles]],<ref>{{Cite Hierocles|p. 643}}</ref> but it was destroyed by an earthquake in 551/2, during the reign of [[Justinian I]].<ref>Procop. ''B. Goth.'' 4.25.</ref>{{sfn|Veikou|2012|pp=466–468}}